Virgil neighbours concerned about townhouse development
Three residents took advantage of a public meeting Tuesday to share concerns about a proposed development in their neighbourhood.
A developer is seeking official plan and zoning bylaw amendments as well as a draft plan of condominium to build 50 townhouses on 10 blocks along a private road in Virgil, south of 419 Line 1 Road, east of Concession 6 Road and west of Oakley Drive. The 1.32 hectare property is vacant.
The official plan amendment proposes to increase the area from low-density to medium-density.
John Federici, a senior planner with the town, gave an overview of the project before residents spoke at this week’s committee-of-the-whole planning meeting.
An open house was held last month, with four people participating. Concerns raised at that time were an increase in density, privacy, setbacks, traffic, and whether emergency vehicles can enter the site appropriately. Some of those concerns were also raised during Tuesday’s public meeting.
Carrie Makins lives at 161 Concession 6 and has “major concerns” about density. Her property abuts the proposed townhouses, and a six-foot fence is “not going to protect us,” she said, referring to her privacy concerns.
Elizabeth DeBoer lives next to Makins and said she agrees with the points raised by her neighbour, taking issue with the new homes, if approved, being too close to her. “I don’t want buildings two or four metres from my backyard,” she said. “I want to be able to enjoy my backyard without an audience.”
Sarah Zimmerman, who lives at 417 Line 1, said she’s “really concerned about safety,” especially because there are no sidewalks planned along the proposed private road, which would run along their property.
She said an S-Curve that is being proposed for the roadway is a “disaster waiting to happen.”
Councillors also had questions.
Coun. Wendy Cheropita asked about a “very mature tree” that sits on the site where the private toad is proposed to be built.
Federici said the town is “going to work with the applicant to do the best we can to preserve that tree and protect it.”
Cheropita also asked about whether the development should have a diversity of homes styles, not just 50 townhouses.
Federici said the application is still under review and that this project would add to the overall mix across Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“In the context of the town as a whole, it’s diversifying the housing stock by bringing townhouses,” he said.
Coun. Sandra O’Connor inquired about what the threshold is when it comes to comparing low and medium density, to which planning director Kirsten McCauley said that is something that can be explained in an upcoming staff report.
“I think that’s something we can take back with us,” she said.
Coun. Gary Burroughs asked Federici about emergency vehicles getting through the S-curve roadway.
The local fire department “didn’t raise an issue,” said Federici.
Max Fedchyshak, from NPG Planning Solutions, also delivered a presentation similar to Federici’s, and fielded questions from council.
Asked by Coun. Nick Ruller about a fence and how it will address privacy concerns of nearby residents, Fedchyshak said a landscape plan should “further mitigate that.”
No decision was made Tuesday when council received an informational report on the proposal. A staff report with recommendations will come at a later date.
Kris Dube, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Niagara-on-the-Lake Local
